I received a birthday e-card this morning from my friend,Â David Stephenson, which said: “I’m sure today will be one the happiest birthdays of your life. Enjoy it to your fullest.” He’s right. Finishing six months of chemotherapy just weeks ago has made today, my 46th birthday, happy indeed. And I tried to enjoy it to my fullest.Â

The day’s activities began early (after a couple of great homemade birthday cards from my two daughters) with “Rock & Run”Â Â a benefit event in support of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Survivorship Initiative.Â Â It is tough to beat spending a beautiful Sunday exercising with my family on the New York City waterfront on behalf of a cancer survivorship program. We walked three miles with hundreds of others and then headed for Pier 84 for a picnic next to the U.S.S. Intrepid (and to top it off the Bruce Springsteen tribute group, the “B-Street Band”,Â Â played on the stage). Just a great morning all around.

Afterwards, I switched out my yellow “Rock & Run” t-shirt into my green CERT uniform to distribute preparedness information at the “Third Avenue Street Fair” on the East Side of Manhattan. Along with my daughter and CERT teammates, I handed out Ready New York Pocket GuidesÂ and other emergency information. One item Â that was very popular among the fairgoers (particularly Â those walking their dogs) was Ready New York For Pets.

Father & daughter tag team distributing preparedness information on Manhattan’s Third Avenue.

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4 responses so far ↓

John,
Thank you so much for being a part of Rock & Run and for sharing your birthday with us.
You and your family are amazing and we can’t thank you enough for your support!
May your year ahead be filled with more great days with your family than you can remember.
Best,
India